Bryan Singer spills the beans on Jack The Giant Killer

Exclusive: "It's the most traditional thing I've ever done"

Bryan Singer has revealed details of his next directing gig Jack The Giant Killer , describing it as “a traditional fairy tale” but with “a fun twist”.

A new take on Jack And The Beanstalk , the film stars Nicholas Hoult as a farmboy who embarks on a mission to rescue a kidnapped princess from the clutches of giants.

“It’s a very traditional fairytale, probably the most traditional thing I’ve ever done,” says Singer. “But it’ll also be a fun twist on the notion of how these tales are told.

“Fairytales are often borne of socio-political commentary and translated into stories for children. But what if they were based on something that really happened?

"What if we look back at the story that inspired the story that you read to your kids? That’s kind of what this movie’s about.”

Singer says his film will combine elements of the original “ultraviolent” tale (which dates back to the 18th Century) with the influence of Ray Harryhausen and “a bit of good old Yellow Brick Road-style magic”.

The film will see the Usual Suspects / X-Men director using 3D and performance capture for the first time. He’ll also be making efforts to spook his family audience.

“There might be some scary moments,” he teases. “The giants do like to eat people… There’s a little of that. They’re giants, you know? It’s what they do!”

Jack The Giant Killer will hit cinemas in summer 2012.

For more from Bryan Singer, get the new issue of Total Film Magazine, which hits newsstands on Thursday 14th April.